Secret #5: Rest is Best
- Kevin Guardado
- Oct 5, 2018
- 2 min read
Quality rest is CRUCIAL for a healthy and active lifestyle.
In fact, it is just as important as having an exercise and nutrition plan. You can’t have one without the other; a proper fitness program incorporates both work and rest!
We recommend getting 7-9 hours of sleep per night.
A quality night’s rest:
Repairs muscle fibers that were damaged from intense lifting sessions
Reduces inflammation
Increases immune function
Restores mental and physical fatigue
Rebalances hormones
Everyone is unique; some need less sleep others need more. Finding your balance should be a priority. Throughout your training journey, find time to assess your body to see if it needs the extra rest/work. The dangers of overtraining are far too common and it’s easy to get carried away with training frequency and intensity. Inadequate recovery will prevent muscle tears from healing and cause scar tissue to build up.
If meeting the sleep requirement is difficult, keep this in mind:
Studies show that 20-30 minute naps can help restore your body’s hormone levels similar to a night’s rest.
If you find you can’t sleep, then meditate in a quiet place.
Meditation is the process of quieting your mind and being aware of your body.
Passive meditation is simply closing your eyes and breathing slowly for a few minutes.
If you have trouble settling down, active meditation may be a better fit.
It adds movement and focused breathing to help recharge.
The benefits of meditation include stress relief, self-awareness, and better concentration. Meditation also helps muscle recovery by reducing the overstimulation of nerve signals, allowing muscles to recover faster.
Find a way to rest your mind and body, even for a few moments.
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